A “Critical Building” means a building that, based on its use and occupancy, is designated by the American Society of Engineers in their publication, “Flood Resistant Design and Construction (ASCE/SEI 24-14) that is a Flood Design Class 3 or Class 4

(From ASCE 24-14, Table 1-1: Flood Design Class of Buildings & Structures)

Flood Design Class 3 – Buildings and structures that pose a high risk to the public or significant disruption to the community should they be damaged, be unable to perform their intended functions after flooding, or fail due to flooding, and includes:

  1. buildings and structures in which a large number of persons may assemble in one place, such as theaters, lecture halls, concert halls, and religious institutions with large areas used for worship;
  2. museums;
  3. community centers and other recreational facilities;
  4. athletic facilities with seating for spectators;
  5. elementary schools, secondary schools, and buildings with college or adult education classrooms;
  6. jails, correctional facilities, and detention facilities;
  7. healthcare facilities not having surgery or emergency treatment capabilities;
  8. care facilities where residents have limited mobility or ability, including nursing homes, but not including care facilities for five or fewer persons;
  9. preschool and child care facilities not located in one- and two-family dwellings;
  10. buildings and structures associated with power generating stations, water and sewage treatment plants, telecommunication facilities, and other utilities that, if their operations were interrupted by a flood, would cause significant disruption in day-to-day life or significant economic losses in a community; and,
  11. buildings and other structures not included in Flood Design Class 4 (including, but not limited to, facilities that manufacture, process, handle, store, use, or dispose of such substances as hazardous fuels, hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste, or explosives) containing toxic or explosive substances where the quantity of the material exceeds a threshold quantity established by the authority having jurisdiction and is sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released.

Flood Design Class 4 – Buildings and structures that contain essential facilities and services necessary for emergency response and recovery, or that pose a substantial risk to the community at large in the event of failure, disruption of function, or damage by flooding, and includes:

  1. hospitals and health care facilities having surgery or emergency treatment facilities;
  2. fire, rescue, ambulance, and police stations and emergency vehicle garages;
  3. designated emergency shelters;
  4. designated emergency preparedness, communication, and operation centers and other facilities required for emergency response;
  5. power generating stations and other public utility facilities required in emergencies;
  6. critical aviation facilities, such as control towers, air traffic control centers, and hangars for aircraft used in emergency response;
  7. ancillary structures, such as communication towers, electrical substations, fuel or water storage tanks, or other structures necessary to allow continued functioning of a Flood Design Class 4 facility during and after an emergency; and,
  8. buildings and other structures (including, but not limited to, facilities that manufacture, process, handle, store, use, or dispose of such substances as hazardous fuels, hazardous chemicals, or hazardous waste) containing sufficient quantities of highly toxic substances where the quantity of the material exceeds a threshold quantity established by the authority having jurisdiction and is sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released.